Britons are racist, says prosecutor

Arts & Culture Culture, Arts, Literature & Linguistics
41

[quote]
Originally posted by ak47:
**This thread is about britain is racist as said by the head of crown prosecution.

This man is in charge of criminal law if he says britain is racist then he should know better all of us because he got the information for whole country and experience more than some extremist americans who don;t even live in britain.

And i have been to both the states and UK and they definetly racist. NYqadiani and myvoice can keep slappping each others backs but can't hide the reality racism is live and kicking at all levels.

You trying to tell me those latinos and black people where complaing for nothing they was lying thats rubbish i saw they had the worst housing the worst neighbourhoods where polictician don;t even bother to go there. Don't give me this rubbish about there is black in high position or gloria estefan is doing it so that means it all good 1 or 2 token gestures is just that token gestures.

So instead of blaming other countries about they got racism too why don't you actually feel ashamed for a change that you have racism and do something about it.**
[/quote]

I happen to be latino as you put it. My grandfather came here in 1940 and worked in the feilds. My father worked in the feilds to put his self through school. He became a Postmaster for the US post office. I own my own business today after years of serving my country. It is not where you are from or what you are it is what you want and how willing you are to achive it. No one iis forced to live in poverty here it is done by choice.

[This message has been edited by Ex-Army (edited June 28, 2002).]

42

An American sucess story, happy Fourth of July, preemptively. I am sure that much of your families achievement was through individual initiative, but did any labor movement indirectly assist in any way? A nice Postmaster job was quite stable, years ago. Maybe, not so now. Your own state in life sounds quite your own doing.

43

[quote]
Originally posted by Ex-Army:
**

I happen to be latino as you put it. My grandfather came here in 1940 and worked in the feilds. My father worked in the feilds to put his self through school. He became a Postmaster for the US post office. I own my own business today after years of serving my country. It is not where you are from or what you are it is what you want and how willing you are to achive it. No one iis forced to live in poverty here it is done by choice.

[This message has been edited by Ex-Army (edited June 28, 2002).]**
[/quote]

Good for you! I am myself a bridge toll collectors son, and he managed to send me to one of the top ten Universities, and also thanks to Uncle Sam and student loans! Yep, there is never a dearth of belly achers!

44

Ok, I gotta ask. With some respect for elders, where in the world did your pop collect tolls and were there any tolls off the books? Just curious. Top ten university is pretty heady stuff.

45

Well, I never said racism was that bad in the US... I said it existed, but it was nothing compared to what we see in the UK, Arab countries and even Pakistan... I have seen ppl from various ethnic backgrounds with virtually no money in thier pockets come to the US and made alot of money, especially in the 80s... I knew a friend, who was a top graduate in pak in computers, he was miserable after that as he couldnt get a job anywhere in pak without a safarish, and then a US visa changed his life and he works for Cisco... Talent was appreciated -> Land of oppurtunities...

Another racist country that we are forgetting here... GERMANY... The country set the best standards in racism... They even make the british look like school kids when it comes to racists...

46

[quote]
Originally posted by TOMASSO:
*Ok, I gotta ask. With some respect for elders, where in the world did your pop collect tolls and were there any tolls off the books? Just curious. Top ten university is pretty heady stuff. *
[/quote]

No Tomasso nothing off the books. Next time you go across a toll bridge notice that there is a camera pointing at the collectors booth. Every transaction is video recorded! And it is all in the Good Ole USA! And yes it is heady stuff and that is why it is called the land of opportunity! And you know what no one ever asked me what was my religion or race or if I knew some big shot or not! And I did not even have to grease anyones palms. Amazing, isn't it.

[This message has been edited by OldLahori (edited June 29, 2002).]

47

So, this toll bridge was in the United States? Ok, you got a partial scholarship to an above average uni, yes?

48

Tomasso, well US News Report ranks it as in the top ten and I'll take their word for it. But, hey I would have been happy with any.

49

Were you an exceptional student?

50

[quote]
Originally posted by TOMASSO:
Were you an exceptional student?
[/quote]

I have even seen average performing students, who have great potential (but are so frustrated in Pakistan of not obtaining admission anywhere) get scholarships in the US...

51

Well, that truly warms the heart to hear such good news, Spock. I have seen plenty of evidence that folks from over in South Asia exhibit great potential. The proper developement of Pakistan and with it Afganistan needs to happen. I don't like racism, but there are some stereotypes that do exist, that greatly annoy me. These negatives count for my heredity, too!

52

T,

My Grandfather died before any labor movement ever started. I never meet him but through his children learned he was a happy man due to his accomplishments. Raising 8 kids and becoming a US citizen among them. All the children were taught to strive to succeed. They all did to different degrees. My father served during the Korea war then went to work for the post office. It took 12 years to get a degree to allow him to become a postmaster. Another 6 years of applying for the position. As to it not being a stable job I wonder what you would consider stable. He is retired today and when he gets bored he works part time for me.

OldLahori,

Hard work and the will to accomplish are what makes America great. My hat is off to you my friend. I will not chase conspiracy theories as to your success.

Spock,

Germany is one of the more racist countries along with SA and Japan that I personally spent time in. Top of the list France the one place I have no use for.

53

Having lived in a number of countries i have found there is racism and xenophobia to some level. There are always parts of society that display those traits. Institutionalized racism is a diff ballgame and I have also seen it in all these countries.

Its good for someone to stand up and say that there is a problem which we need to solve..this guy had the guts to say that. I wish more people in leadership positions in more countries could do the same.

54

You know, it is great to hear some of the success stories that have been shared here. I am a second generation American. My grandparents were dirt poor, immigrated from Poland and worked as laborers in the mines in Michigan. My father fought in WWII and used the GI benefits to get an education and become an engineer after the war. His children (me included) were the first to receive professional degrees in his family.

For all the talk of racism in America, I'd defy anyone to share with us similar opportunities and experiences available anywhere else in the world. Any and all who are willing to work hard and look for them can find them here. And to those of us who have shared these benefits, it matters not one iota to me that Ex-Army is of Latino heritage nor does it matter one iota to him that I am of Polish heritage. In the same way, it does not matter to either of us whether someone is Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, red, black, green, or blue. If OldLahori, Ex-Army and I happened to accidentally bump into each other at a coffee house or bar, I can assure you the last thing that might come up in a conversation is what our ethnicities are or what religion we practice. We are far more likely to fight and argue about who our favorite baseball or football teams are.

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MV,

You hit the nail on the head. America is a melting pot of people. We live as one, pledge allegiance to the flag. We may not agree on much of anything other than we are the greatest nation in the world. Racism exists and to some extent we all suffer from it to some degree. I can’t stand the why me’s of the world personally. But in times of need we all or mostly all have the ability to look beyond race, religion, color to reach out to those in need. People who have never experienced it will always be ignorant of the true reality of our great nation.

56

myvoice

its very easy to not see what others face unless you have been in their shoes.

As much opportunity as US provides and as much of a melting pot that it is (although i prefer that we try to be more like a salad) racism is here.

Now this is not to say that other places do not have this problem. But simply saying, land of the free home of the brave, we are the best and it happens elsewhere does not change the fact that racism exists. More than some places, less than others, but it exists.

I dont jump on the racism bandwagon, but that does not change the fact that I was attacked by 3 thugs during desert storm days just cuz they wanted to bash a camel jockey. Thats just one example.

The dude that was dragged to his death in texas was murdered due to his race.

a problem is a problem, in comparison to other places it may look miniscule, or it may look gigantic. To solve a problem, there needs to be admission that there is a problem.

Just because one does not face it does not mean that the problem does not exist. Otherwise I would declare that their is no problem with poverty in Pakistan, or sectarian tension in belfast, or with literacy in Saudi Arabia.

57

Mr. Fraudia, I don't think anyone is suggesting that there is no racism in USA. That would be just plain silly. I am sorry that you got bashed by three thugs. It should not have happened. There is much to do in America to make it a better place for all its citizens. No doubt about it, and thank God the citizens know it and are willing to act where they can. And you are right that one needs to distinguish between whether there is a little pepper in a bottle of salt or a little salt in a bottle of pepper. Although technically one can call both of them salt and pepper there is a tremendous amount of difference. Racism in USA is racism no doubt, but comparing it to some other places unfortunately on this earth is not very useful just because of the tremendous difference. I do not know enough of the various countries of the world to tell you where racism is less and where it is more. The countries that I have experience with, there racism is definately a lot more than what I have found in USA. However, what I have been told that as recently 1960 there were a lot of very racist laws on USA books in many many states. So atleast I think we are headed in the right direction.

[This message has been edited by OldLahori (edited June 30, 2002).]

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Fraudia:
You apparently focused on my last post in this thread without putting it in the context of the first posts I made. Those posts first challenged people to name 5 countries in the world without racism and then reduced the number to 1.

NYA had a nice little discussion about racism in communist regimes but no one else rose to the challenge to name a single non-racist country. That being the case, it makes no sense for someone to post an accusation that some country is "racist" as if this makes them the evil ones. While any racism is bad, it is inconceivable to me that racism can be totally eradicated in any country because it stems from hearts and minds.

Therefore, comparison is the only logical thing to do and those countries that should score most highly are those that have made the greatest efforts to eradicate structural laws that are racist and promote opportunity for all. On this basis, the US scores very highly with its elimination of Jim Crow laws, its adoption of civil rights laws, its criminal and civil statutes barring discrimination in the workplace, its hate crimes legislation, its prosecution of thugs, etc., etc.

Because of all this, you are able to read the stories of successes that have been shared on this board. You have whites, blacks, hispanics, poles, christians, jews, muslims, immigrants of all flavors etc. occupying positions of power and influence in the judiciary, the media, the halls of Congress and business and industry.

America haters will always go back to the examples of slavery and the conquest of the Indians to try to make a point. Rather than trying to place blame and fault on Americans who were never alive to participate in slavery or conquer the Indians, let's talk about TODAY. Name me five countries that have been as successfull as America in weeding out structural racism and promoting opportunities for everyone that have led to tangible results like those in America.

Should we acknowledge that racism still exists and always try to eradicate it when we see it? Of course. Failure to do so represents a clear and present danger that it will root and grow to our nation's detriment. However, given our successes, non-American's time would be better spent focusing on doing the same in their own countries rather than casting a stone in our direction.

59

Old Lahori

whereas I was jumped by 3 thugs, the only bashing that took place was the ass kicking two of them received. The bashing would have been a lot of fun especially since the idiots chose to jump me less than 2 blocks from the fraternity row.

I agree that comaprison and saying who is better and who is worse does not solve much. All it does is show the progrsss some countries have made and what others can learn from, but that does not mean that the countries who have lesser racism problems do not have the issues.

My Voice

I read all your posts. No one can name a singlr country where racism is not a problem..US included. Thats my point, to simply say we are better than most, well that says that many of those can learn from US, but then there could be those from whom US can learn as well. To simnply say we are better than most and thus no need to do anything about it is jumping the gun.

What you missed from my post was that just because you have not faced racism here does not mean that it is not here. Now institutionally we have laws and regulations to try to provide equal opportunities to people. racism transcends beyond institutionalized racism and goes into societal factors as well. What law is going to help me when someone just harrasses me? unless there is a cop everywhere enforcing all laws at all times, what would it do.

Now dont get me wrong, laws are all well and good, but just because we have laws against rape does not mean that rapes end. Same for racism. They are hard to enforce as well.

You may not have faced racism in US, so you have a diff view of it. as far as people pointing fingers. I have a concern of racist attitudes and behaviors that affect me and my family, as americans.

60

Racism is not institutionalized in the US, like it is in many other countries, but deep down inside, it exists, especially among the right-wing folks. Denying this is denying the truth.

Their are whole groups of people in the US who HATE blacks, hispanics and immigrants.

This very intersting too.
http://christianparty.net/genocide.htm

The American Genocide

Blacks murder twelve Whites in the US every day.

Young black men are 175 more likely than White women to be murderers and 145 times more likely to be murdered.

This act of genocide by blacks and Hispanics, observed by the US government and ignored by the media, took 127 times as many American lives in the 20th Century than Osama bin Ladin.

And these views are not beign expressed by two or three indiviuals, but at least half of the Republican party thinks along this line.

Sniff, The poor opressed white man of the the US.

[This message has been edited by Mursalin (edited July 01, 2002).]